Horseradish Catering Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 45.1s

Shazzamataz²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: A M Hales| OR: 110

3/1

Won a Kempton maiden hurdle (2m5f, good) in the spring. Well held in handicaps since. Returns to this sphere with a penalty to shoulder. Needs to get back on track.

Form: P44-144

Skin Deep⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| D

1/1

Won both a bumper and then a Worcester maiden hurdle (good) in the summer, the latter over a similar trip. Carries a penalty here, but open to improvement and looks the one to beat.

Form: 321P1

Dame du Soir²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| BF

9/1

Dual bumper winner in France. A shade disappointing when favourite but beaten over 7L on hurdles debut at Exeter in February. Has been given time before being brought back to the track, which could pay off, but clearly more needed.

Form: 21315-

Just Heather⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright

200/1

0-16 and nothing we have seen suggests that today might be her day.

Form: P

Pique Rock^h¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly

3/1

Triple point-to-point winner, but rules career has thus far proved disappointing. Much more needed than when last seen in a novices' hunter chase in June.

Form: 16F-114

Sid Hoodie^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

33/1

Newton Abbot maiden bumper winner. Unseated rider when leaving paddock prior to a 19L beating on hurdles debut at Worcester last month. Plenty more needed.

Form: 84216

Forecasts

Skin Deep (1/1), Pique Rock (3/1), Shazzamataz (3/1), Dame du Soir (9/1), Sid Hoodie (33/1), Just Heather (200/1)

A moderate opener can go to SKIN DEEP, who looks open to improvement and is taken to defy a penalty. Shazzamataz should be capable of being more competitive again, now back in this sphere, while Dame du Soir could present a bigger danger, her hurdling debut not having appeared to be her true running.